Although 2x130m may not seem that tall to some international readers it's pretty big in terms of regional citys in the UK and will make a large addition to the Birmingham skyline. With the exception of London which has 200m+ towers and proposals at 300m all other UK city's buildings are less than 200m.

Birmingham has by some people's deffinition the best skyline in the UK due to its large number of talls situated at the top of the ridge of a hill which the city centre streches accross. A boom in post war deveopment saw Birmingham become one of the first old citys to modernise and have many tall buildings. By the end of the 1970s however most of the construction of tall buildings had ceased with only sporadic additions over the next 20-30 years.

Birmingham's tallest building remains the now 40year old BT Tower (156m communcations tower in the city centre). Many new towers are now being built and planned as British citys genearly enter a second age of high rise constuction.

Birmingham is at the forefront of this new boom with the recent construction of the Beetham tower (122m and currently second tallest building in the city) and Orion Building (90m). A lot more buildings are planned but if built first then these two buildings would become the 2nd and 3rd tallest in the city. Their central position on the skyline would no doubt also make them a focal point even with large buildings planned elsewhere in the city.

The central location of the proposals is part of the Birmingham gateway scheme to redevelop Birmingham's New St station a 1960s era station that is massively over capacity and such an eyesore that it is known as the Blackhole of Birmingham. The area around the station is one of the few remaining areas of central Birmingham to remain untouched by regeneration over the last 15 years.

Construction due middle 2007. New designs just been released on the front of Birmingham post. I shall post them later.

It could potentially have the highest restaurant in Europe. Its pure 175m of glass with a torquoise and minimilistic pink colour cladding, yet see through all the way to the top. The lifts will be placed on the outside of the tower so vistors will get a birdseye view of Birmingham and its skyline. The top is lit up and has a rather large plasma rolling screen roll around the top of the tower indicating the time and date. One ride is placed on top of the restaurant and is illuminated in normal lighting, This doesnt seem much but the effect it will have will be superb. Its a rotating cart ride which will give the indication of a halo on the tower.

Birmingham city council have worked with ROC International and SMC Hickton Medley have designed the £60m tower.

These are the first stunning images of what will be the Midlands’ tallest building.

The proposed £60 million Pinnacle tower, standing 574 feet tall, will dominate Birmingham’s skyline, standing taller than the city’s BT tower. The project in Eastside will feature Britain’s first vertical theme park.Located next to Millennium Point, the Pinnacle is also likely to feature one of Europe’s highest restaurants. Bosses behind the scheme have said building work should start next year and take around three years.

It is hoped it will be officially opened in the run-up to Christmas 2010. The building is set to have six theme park rides as well as a glass lift offering panoramic views of the city. Rides at the tower may include a freefall parachute drop, bungee jump and a seesaw.

The building, to dwarf the city’s current tallest structure, the 498ft Birmingham BT Tower, by 76ft, has been designed by Birmingham and Telford based architects SMC Hickton Madeley.

Design director Tim Warner described it as an exciting project for everyone involved and said it would have a positive impact commercially for the city as well boosting the aesthetics of Birmingham’s skyline.

He said: “We are extremely excited about this project. It will represent the highest building in the Midlands and potentially the highest restaurant in Europe, giving scope and presence to the rejuvenation programme and public connections for Eastside and plans for the new park.

“The project is a clear responsibility and a challenging opportunity and the quality of our approach must be coherent on all levels and carry and comfort all the stakeholder associated and along the way.”

The new building will be clearly visible from surrounding motorways and other roads in the area.

Birmingham City Council regeneration boss Clive Dutton said: “This will dramatically improve the skyline of Birmingham. It has the makings of a project to add something special - a world-class skyline in a world-class city.”

The newly constructed Beetham Tower, at 400ft, is currently the city’s tallest residential building.